Preview: Caramel's autumn/winter 2010/11 collection

It's always a treat take a first peek at Caramel's new collection. This autumn, the luxury baby and childrenswear label mixes traditional British fabrics like fairisle and Harris tweed with soft crushed velvets, baby alpaca and corduroy. How comforting. As always, there's a fine array of pretty prints to lighten things up including a delightful cockatoo pattern and classic Liberty print. So, that's why I'm suddenly yearning for the leaves to fall from the trees. Roll on the autumn...
Caramel Baby & Child is available in sizes from 0-10 years.

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The most stylish nursing chairs. Ever

We never thought we would mutter these words: 'I want that nursing chair and I want it now!' Until this week, the humble feeding chair was an object of function and not style (just take a trip to John Lewis' baby department). That was until two super-stylish sisters, Chloe and Olivia Brookman decided to create a range of beautiful buba and parent-friendly chairs. The pair are set on offering customers the chair of their dreams; the colours for leather and piping can be customised. And there are matching cushions! There are two designs which glide soporifically back and forth; the Mo-ma chair with low arm rests and the more angular Da-da chair (both with matching ottomans). So chic, you will want to keep these chairs for decades to come. From £799 at Olliella

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Biker chic

I always like to think of my daughter as sweet and girlie but this pic would imply I have a tomboy in the making on my hands! Snapped by my brother, Frank, on our recent family holiday to the Cotswolds how it makes me giggle. Evie adored riding on this grubby old motorbike toy in a brilliant playground we found in Chipping Norton. Thankfully, a little feminine elegance remains in the form of her floral summer dress. Now, that is what I call biker chic.

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All salute Aden + Anais

Can't believe we only recently discovered Aden + Anais, the wonderous brand specialising in giant muslins. Aussie mum of three and CEO, Raegan Moya-Jones, believes swaddling is the route to calm and happy babies. Pregnant with her first child and living in New York, she couldn't find the large muslins used in Oz and so she created her own range of super-soft jumbo muslins (about four times the size of a regular muslin). These days she is a successful Brooklyn-based business woman with a book on the subject and string of celebrity fans including Gwen Stefani and Nicole Ritchie. Aden + Anais now provide muslin sleeping bags, wash cloths and four-ply muslin blankets. The brand's ethos 'Made for baby. Designed for you' couldn't ring more true; the prints from cute little frogs to smiling goldfish and bold stars are super-collectible. Evie may be well beyond the stage of swaddling but we have been using them as summer blankets, sun shields and make shift picnic blankets. How did we ever live without them? From £11 each at Adenandanais.co.uk and Baababybaa.co.uk

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COMPETITION! Win a beautiful Belle & Boo dress and framed print

ChicLittleBaby's first competition: WOO HOO! We are delighted to offer our readers the chance to win a dreamy Lola Freedom dress (in size 12 months to 4 years) and charming framed print by Belle & Boo. Featuring illustrations by the mightily talented Mandy Sutcliffe, both would make fantastic gifts for friend's baby's or indeed your own little darling daughter. For your chance to win, simply post a comment below by midnight July 31. ChicLittleBaby will put all names in a hat and pick a winner randomly, then post the results on Aug 1 2010. Good luck!

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Belle & Boo we love you

Mandy Sutcliffe started selling her charming framed children's illustrations three years ago. Since then she has translated them onto home wares, stationery and clothing for her label Belle & Boo. While studying illustration at Leeds Metropolitan University, Sutcliffe found inspiration in Paris where she spent time sketching French children in parks. Her characters include the delightful bobbed little girl, Belle and her bunny Boo, whom the brand is named after. Evie and I adore her pretty aesthetic with a retro fee. Each garment is lovingly made with patterned linings - the vintagey dresses and tops are reversible and arrive with a paper Belle & Boo doll. Cute, playful and innocent: these are clothes that make little girls look like little girls. Utterly adorable.

DON'T MISS YOUR CHANCE TO WIN A BEAUTIFUL BELLE & BOO DRESS AND FRAMED PRINT NEXT WEEK!

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Charming children's illustration

I found myself in Jaeger HQ, Soho yesterday previewing the brand's beautiful new 'Boutique' collection (available from Aug 5). As I waited in reception I pored over Jaeger archive images (the brand was established in 1884) and was thrilled to find illustrations by Mabel Lucie Attwell. Attwell, born in Mile End, London in 1879 was probably the most prolific children's illustrator of the past century, adored for her pictures of whimsical cherubic babies. Jaeger commissioned her to design adverts for their children's collection in the 1920s and 1930s and the Jaeger Twins (above) were born. Her images looked familiar and I realised a much cherished copy of the Water Babies which my mother gave me as a child also features her adorable sketches (left). Attwell also illustrated Peter Pan and Alice in Wonderland as well as designing a range of figurines for Shelley pottery. No wonder she remains highly collectible to this day. Ooh, and could Jaeger bring back a baby range please.

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Chic and Unique

Recycled clothing transformed into one-of-a-kind designs for babies and children is what Sarah Coates specialises in. Fed-up with 'disposable' clothing for children Coates was inspired to start making clothes for her daughter (now five) and Smith and Coates was born. Her speciality is transforming old pieces of knitwear for grown-ups into charming and totally unique garments for babies and children, trimmed with vintage fabrics and cute crocheted details. Evie and I have our eyes on the little knitted frocks, shirt dresses and cardis. Adorable. Available at our favourite Notting Hill shop Wolf & Badger, 46 Ledbury Rd, London W11 2AB (0207 229 5698/www.wolfandbadger.com)

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Paul Smith for littl'uns

Sir Paul Smith, one of our most beloved and successful designers has at last turned his attention to designing clothes for children and babies. Paul Smith Junior is inspired by his grown-up collections for men and women so you'll see classics like his multi-stripes translated on shirts and knits. Boyswear includes quirky floral shirts, sumptuous cashmere knits and khaki parkas while girls can choose from adorable fairisle cardigans, rose print silk dresses and woolen smocks. Mwah! Sizes from 6 months to age 14.
The collection will in store from Sept 2010. Stockists include Harrods, Selfridges, Harvey Nichols and Brown Thomas.  
 

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Move over Glastonbury...

LolliBop is almost upon us. In two weeks time, the first proper festival for under 10s opens in Stoke Newington's Clissold Park (where else?) Evie and I can hardly wait for the fire breathing dragons and ginormous sandpit promised. As well as face painting, treasure hunts and balloon modelling, there will be the world's smallest nightclub, Minuscule of Sound, and Babyoke, where you can transform your baby into your favourite pop star. Yippee! Evie says no to Amy Winehouse though. Lady Gaga, perhaps? She'll adore Dr Doo's little zoo full of real-life farm animals. Grown-ups won't get bored either - there's an adult creche with proper beer (daddy will be happy) and a chance for me to add a little bling to the trusty Maclaren at the 'Pimp my pram' stand. And yes, there's an entire tent devoted to baby changing and feeding. What's not to like?
LolliBop runs from 11am-7pm on Sat 17th July and Sun 18th July, Clissold Park, London N16. Buses 73, 106. Tube Finsbury Park, Highbury & Islington, Manor Park.
Tickets children, £14.50, adults £9, under 1s free.
Map

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Teeny-weeny designer chairs

I've long had a passion for a good designer chair. How I lust after a white Eames Barcelona or classic Marcel Breuer Wassily. No matter, I have just discovered Molly Meg, an ingenious company set on bring 20th Century Modern design to children. Thanks to owner Molly's hard work trawling the globe for miniature seats, I can now invest in a classic designer chair for Evie: hooray! Molly Meg has a wonderful selection of vintage styles for little bottoms from the 1950s upwards, including this rare metal chair with a blackboard attached, manufactured by MOBO, London in the 1950s (£110) and this simple wooden structure by Cassala, Netherlands, 1960s (£95). Molly Meg will be involved in the Lollibop festival (look out for more info on that coming soon!) Also, check out the charming of old-fashion Birthday cards they sell online. We A.D.O.R.E...

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